RFI Supply Chain Aggregate.docx

State of Florida Department of Transportation Central Procurement Office 605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 20 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION from the Florida Department of Transportation

RFI Number: DOT-RFI-24-9040-PB

RFI Title: Strategic Intermodal System Supply Chain Demands

Responses Due Date & Time (On or Before): November 3rd, 2023 at 5:00PM EST

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is requesting information from interested parties as described below. This is not a formal procurement.

Introduction

Pursuant to Rule 60A-1.042, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), Agencies are authorized to use a Request For Information (RFI) for research to determine any or all of the following: whether to competitively procure particular commodities or contractual services; which solicitation process to use for a particular need; or general, special, or technical specifications to be included in a solicitation. An RFI is not a solicitation, and an agency issuing a RFI is not required to utilize any information gathered from the RFI, nor is a respondent to an RFI excluded from participating in any resulting solicitation. A response to an RFI is not an offer and the agency may not use a submission to justify a contract without otherwise complying with Chapter 287, Florida Statutes, and Rule 60A-1.042, F.A.C.

It is not necessary to prepare responses using elaborate brochures and artwork, expensive paper and bindings, or other expensive visual presentation aids. The Florida Department of Transportation (Department) is not responsible for and will not reimburse any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of information in response to this RFI. This is strictly an RFI, and this request does not bind FDOT to solicit bids or proposals in the future. In addition, the submittal of the information under this RFI does not give any respondent any advantage in any solicitation if FDOT elects to solicit bids/proposals in the future.

Respondents should be cautioned that any written material provided to the Department will be subject to public records if requested. As a result, no confidential information should be submitted in response to this RFI.

Request for Information

The Florida Department of Transportation (Department) is requesting information from interested parties (i.e., seaports, rail line, and rail facility representatives) regarding the supply chain demands described below.

The Department is exploring solutions to address supply chain demands of the Strategic Intermodal System pursuant to section 339.651, F.S., which directs the Department to make up to $20 million available each year for fiscal years 2023-2024 through 2027-2028, from existing work program revenues, to fund projects that meet the public purpose of providing increased capacity and enhanced capabilities to move and store construction aggregate.

Background

The Strategic Intermodal System is a critical network supporting economic activities and the transport of people and goods and is also instrumental in the movement of road building materials for infrastructure investment. Florida’s rapid economic and population growth has the potential to compound supply chain demands on the transportation system with the demand for construction aggregate outpacing supply.

Specific Information Requested

The Department is requesting information from seaports and rail lines and rail facilities on proposed projects that meet the public purpose of providing increased capacity and enhanced capabilities to move and store construction aggregate. Respondents shall provide a written Response, addressing the demand and movement of road building materials for infrastructure investments.

In your Response, please answer each of the following questions based on your current or proposed abilities:

1. Outline how your proposed project serves the strategic state interest of mitigating supply chain demands for construction aggregate sufficient to ensure ongoing improvement of the Strategic Intermodal System and the state’s entire transportation network. Responses should address:

a. Location of the proposed project and which Department districts the proposed project will serve by market share in descending order.

b. Source and type of aggregate(s) moved or stored.

c. How the proposed project fills existing gaps in Florida’s supply chain.

2. Describe how the proposed project facilitates the cost-effective and efficient movement and storage of construction aggregate. Responses should include:

a. Existing capacity at the proposed project location and additional capacity created by the proposed project.

b. How the proposed project enhances the seaport or rail line or rail facilities’ capability to move and store construction aggregate.

3. Identify the extent to which the proposed project interacts with and supports the transportation network. Responses should identify:

a. Interconnectivity of the proposed project or proposed project location to Florida’s roadway, railroad, and waterway network(s).

b. How the proposed project improves or strengthens distribution of aggregate(s) to transportation construction projects.

4. Describe additional capacity created by the proposed project, for example the amount of:

a. Yard storage (acres)

b. Rail car area (cars)

c. Rail loading (cars)

d. Truck staging (spaces)

e. Truck loading (spaces)

f. Vessel unloading (berths)

g. Granite (tons)

h. Lime rock (tons)

i. Asphalt products (tons)

j. Concrete products (tons)

5. Include a project location map or site layout as part of your response.

The Department may request additional clarification from respondents or exercise the choice to invite respondents that fully address the questions above to meet and discuss the submitted information in more detail. Any information provided via this RFI and during the meetings will be subject to public disclosure.

Contact for Questions or clarification:

Please email (co.aggregate@dot.state.fl.us) with any questions or comments. Subject line: DOT-RFI-24-9040-PB

Responses should be submitted by e-mail to the following address: co.aggregate@dot.state.fl.us Subject Line: DOT-RFI-24-9040-PB

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF REPLIES

Please follow the submittal instructions below:

· Replies shall be submitted to: (co.aggregate@dot.state.fl.us)

· Subject line must show: DOT-RFI-24-9040-PB (Respondent's Name)

· All replies submitted electronically shall contain file attachments and be marked as follows: RFI - (Insert Respondent's Name)

· Please submit your documents in .pdf (portable document format) for the response to this RFI.

· Do not submit documents in .zip (ZIP) files. The Department is unable to receive them.

· Please keep below the file size limitation of 25MB.

PLEASE NOTE:

1) Responses to this Request for Information (RFI) will be reviewed by the agency for informational purposes and will not be considered as offers to be accepted by the agency to form a binding contract.

2) The Department may contact respondents that fully respond to the questions to discuss information in further detail.

3) Information obtained in response to this RFI is public record as defined by Chapter 119, Florida Statutes (F.S.).

4) In accordance with Section 287.057, F.S., information obtained in response to this RFI may be used to develop scope and solicitation documents for future procurements at the discretion of the Department. Respondents eligible to respond to this RFI will remain eligible for any subsequent related contract with the agency.

5) Advertisement of any subsequent competitive solicitation that may result from this RFI will be posted on the MyFloridaMarketPlace Vendor Bid System.

6) If the responses to this RFI contain any information subject to non-disclosure, then the respondent must include any materials it asserts to be exempted from public disclosure under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, in a separate bound document labeled "Confidential Material". The respondent must identify the specific Statute that authorizes exemption from the Public Records Law. Any claim of confidentiality on materials the respondent asserts to be exempt from public disclosure and placed elsewhere in the proposal will be considered waived by the respondent upon submission, effective after opening.

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